Rating: 
Summary: ... some additional comments
Review: A few additional points after using the Canon 18x50 image stabilisers on an extended holiday ... frankly, nothing beats these binoculars for bird watching or while using binoculars from a moving platform. I watched sea eagles in flight off the Norwegan coast with a clarity of vision that made it feel like I was flying in formation with them. But be warned ... carry a large stock of batteries. The Canon stabilisation system will chew through a pair of batteries in a day's steady use. Of course the binoculars still functions without image stabilisation, but once you have used the I.S. anything else seems vastly inferior. As my earlier review noted the Zeiss image stabilisation system does not use batteries, but the 3000 pound sterling cost is still prohibitive.
Rating: 
Summary: Great except for rubber eye cups!
Review: Actually two things. First, these are incredible. If you haven't tried IS binoculars, run don't walk to to the nearest store. A couple of reviews have noted that the binoculars do not have lens caps for the objective lenses. While this is a drawback, it is easily corrected. The lens casing is threaded, so buy a pair of 58mm UV filters and screw them in. ... The UV filters will protect the lenses and any snap-on lens cover will attach to the UV filters.
Rating:
Summary: Just one thing to add
Review: Actually two things. First, these are incredible. If you haven't tried IS binoculars, run don't walk to to the nearest store. A couple of reviews have noted that the binoculars do not have lens caps for the objective lenses. While this is a drawback, it is easily corrected. The lens casing is threaded, so buy a pair of 58mm UV filters and screw them in. ... The UV filters will protect the lenses and any snap-on lens cover will attach to the UV filters.
Rating:
Summary: Suitable for bird-watching?
Review: First, I don't own these binoculars (yet), but I've started saving my shekels based on the earlier reviews and the Canon name. Also, please note that these binoculars are 18x (not 50x as another reviewer suggests). For bird-watchers it's worth mentioning that one should keep in mind the difficulty that many have in finding a bird through higher magnification binoculars after spotting the bird with one's eyes. I have a pair of 12x50 Pentax binoculars that I like a great deal and have had only minimal trouble finding birds that I've spotted. My wife, however, doesn't have the same good fortune and so prefers her 10x50 Bushnells. The Audobon Society (the last time I checked) recommends 7x35 binoculars, but the average age of their membership is somewhere around 55, so most are unable to hold steady the higher power binoculars. I'm also curious to know how much these binoculars weigh and how bright the image is (as I'd read somewhere that 12x50 represented the best compromise between magnification and image brightness). From the other reviews it certainly sounds like that's not a problem. If I can ever afford them I'll add to this review.
Rating:
Summary: Get these binoculars...
Review: Get these binoculars, if you can afford them. I have looked at, or through, Zeiss and Leicas, and the Canon's are of equal quality. The image stabilization works, period. You can see detail that is NOT possible without IS. Also, the binoculars are very usable without the IS feature, more so than I would have thought. My suggestion, buy the highest magnification that will fit your application, since IS gives the greatest benefit at higher powers.
Rating:
Summary: Get these binoculars...
Review: Get these binoculars, if you can afford them. I have looked at, or through, Zeiss and Leicas, and the Canon's are of equal quality. The image stabilization works, period. You can see detail that is NOT possible without IS. Also, the binoculars are very usable without the IS feature, more so than I would have thought. My suggestion, buy the highest magnification that will fit your application, since IS gives the greatest benefit at higher powers.
Rating: 
Summary: An Interesting High-Tech Toy
Review: I bought the Canon 18x image stabilizer binoculars a month ago and I love them. The reason I bought these high-powered binoculars is I want to identify all the major landmarks in the San Jose South Bay area. My wife and I ride up to the mid-hill of Mt. Hamilton once a month. Most of the time before we are ready to turn back and coast down the hill, we spend a fair amount of time looking at the spectacular scenery of the San Jose and South Bay area. We want to identify as many landmarks as possible. With our compact Minolta 10x binoculars, we get a clear look at downtown San Jose and of course the Lockheed aircraft hangers. But we could not find the San Jose airport. With the new Canon binoculars, we can identify the airport and many other places. We can even find the street intersection that is only one street away from where we live. The interesting thing is once we identify a place, we can also use the compact Minolta to see the landmark, although with smaller vision. These Canon binoculars make excellent spotter. The image stabilizer is an interesting high-tech feature. It helps to get a clear and stable view if you press the stabilizer button. However, the binoculars weight 2.6 lbs. I am tired after holding them for two to three minutes. Last time we rode up Mt. Hamilton, we bought a regular camera tripod with us. These Canon binoculars come with a built-in screw thread that can accept a standard tripod quick-release plate. With the binoculars mounted on the tripod, we spent a good half hour looking down the beautiful landscape. The obvious question is, does the use of the tripod defeat the purpose of paying extra for the image stabilizer? How much something is worth is a very personal question. It differs from person to person. I am not going to attempt to answer this question. We are very happy to own these binoculars. This is a very pricey toy, but we love it. I first saw the Canon 15x image stabilizer binoculars at Wolf's Camera web site and they have a price tag of around $1,200. I was shocked by the price. I told myself some day I might buy it. A year later, amazon.com was carrying this 18x version at a much lower price. I was overjoyed and broke down and bought this toy the following month.
Rating:
Summary: Great except for rubber eye cups!
Review: I love these binoculars -- they do everything they promise
and the performance is spectacular. My only complaint is
that the rubber eyecups are furiously uncomfortable. I
guess I have deep eye-sockets. The eye-relief is much too
much which greatly reduces my field of view and I find
myself smashing my eyes against the cups. The cups are too
large in diamater to fit comfortably against my eyes. If I
roll the cups down, the rolled down portion of the cups is
very thick and I can't get my nose between the eyepieces...
Haven't found any sort of replacement -- may start hacking with
scissors soon!
Rating:
Summary: Nice Binoculars!
Review: I really like these binoculars. Please read the other reviews to gain knowledge on the product's high points. Also note, I have not found any of the low points mentioned to be present or affect my viewing in any way.
Rating:
Summary: Love My Binocular!!!!!!
Review: I've owned my 18x50 binocs for two years now, and have used them mainly for astronomy. Perhaps my expectations were too high, but... (1) I found the image to be less stable than expected. It's certainly better than with no IS system at all, but not as solid as you'd get from using a good tripod. Of course, using a tripod near the zenith is a problem, but there are solutions for that, such as the Sky Window system (the binocs look downward, at a mirror). After an hour's observing, you'll definitely notice how heavy these binocs are. (2) I found a large amount of residual color on bright objects...red on one side, blue on the other. I attribute this to the prisms used in the IS system. (3) The maximum interocular distance is just barely wide enough for my eyes. The diopter adjustment has considerable stick and slip. I'd rather wear my glasses than mess with the diopter, but the eye relief isn't sufficient. (4) The binocs come without lens OG lens caps, which is strange, considering how expensive they are. I suggest you NOT buy this binocs online. Go to a store that will let you take them outside. Examine a star-like object, such as sun glint off a power line insulator. Check out the IS, the residual color, and the weight. See if the store will let you have them "on approval," and try them out at night. And don't forget, you can buy a pretty good apochromatic telescope for $2000. Roger Rensvold
Hong Kong
| 
